I've got a new Favourite Beer

About 7 for 8 years back, I suddenly - more or less overnight - acquired a taste for bitter, rather than lager. Having enjoyed a ride around Macc Forest, we'd called in to the King's Head @ Gurnett, and faced with a choice of Carlsberg or Wifebeater found myself unable to choose either. Instead, I randomly pointed at one of the hand pumps and was rewarded with my first pint of Marston's Pedigree, for which I developed an immediate and long lasting fondness. Over the years I've dallied with many other beers and have taken a shine to some, but Pedigree has always been my favourite.

However, a recent visits to (whisper it quietly) Morrison's has changed all that. 4 bottles for a fiver gave me the opportunity to try four beers that I've never tasted before - I had a tenner, so two of each, just to make sure. One was Thwaits' remembrance ale, and one was Black Sheep's Yorkshire Square ale - both acceptable, but nothing special. I can't even remember what the fourth one was, as my mind has been dedicated solely to the golden nectar of the gods that is Thwaites' Wainwright Ale. Beautiful, simply beautiful. I'm looking forward to finding it on tap somewhere, as I find that proper hand pumped beer is always better than bottled, and if it's that good from a bottle (and both bottles were exceptional, I tell you) then the pumped stuff bust surely be fabulous

Anyone else have a taste for this fine ale? Or have you recently found some other beer worth hunting down? I just wish I had some left for tonight!

Discovered Langhams LSD at last weekends beer festival and am currently ploughing through a mixed box of ales bought from a Suffolk Beer shop that only sells beers from breweries in East Anglia, tonights brewery will be Brandon's............ can't wait

First sampled this fine brew two years ago at the Thwaites Brewery open day,(didn't have far to go either,its only a mile from home ) which was part of their 200 year celebrations.
Did the brewery tour,then into the visitor centre for 'samples'.The guy behind the bar was keen for me to try Wainwrights,as it was a recent addition to their range,when I went back for my second pint he was full of questions as to what my thoughts & impressions were.It was only later that I found out that he was the head brewer!No wonder he took such an interest.
Oh,& just to confirm,yes,the cask ale is indeed fabulous!

Spotted: Wednesday night, Wainwright on tap in the Grassington House Hotel, Grassington.... it's a long way to go though (unless you can plan a ride that 'happens' to start/finish/require a pub stop there)

BTW, bottled bitter is always better than pump-drawn IME, unless it's been VERY well kept... Especially up north, where they seem to be obsessed with making everything "smooth" by adding nitrogen or "air fizz".

and as for "smooth", speak for yourself, I'm from "up north" and although I'll drink top gas in preference to lager, I'll always go for the hand pump if one is available. and I prefer pumped bitter to bottled, it's rare to find a handpumped beer that's badly kept (although it has happend, viz the Green Dragon inn just outsde Hawes)

They have Thwaites Wainright in Threshers/WineRack at the moment, haven't tried it yet, but I will. I'm into American cascade hops at the moment like Copper Dragons Goldern Pippin, Saltaire Brewerys Cascade.

BTW, bottled bitter is always better than pump-drawn IME, unless it's been VERY well kept... Especially up north, where they seem to be obsessed with making everything "smooth" by adding nitrogen or "air fizz".

Since this now seems to be a promote your favourite beer type thread, I would recommend to anyone that lives in the Derby area http://www.amberales.co.uk/, great beer and a rather friendly delivery service if you can be flexible - Go Beer!!!

BTW, bottled bitter is always better than pump-drawn IME, unless it's been VERY well kept... Especially up north, where they seem to be obsessed with making everything "smooth" by adding nitrogen or "air fizz".

My boy - you need to get out more - or are you referring to the 'North' as somewhere South of the Tyne?